If the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, then how do X-rays show such sharp images of bones?

Question

If the rays hit the bone then reflect off, would they not travel at a diagonal and not directly back at the machine to make such an image?

In: Physics

Answer 1

medical X-rays arent reflections.

The X-ray goes THROUGH the substance into the film, and the substance absorbs some of the X-ray as it does depending on its density.

That being said, angle in = angle out is for reflections off a smooth surface like a mirror, with any rough surface there are smaller angled surfaces at every angle that diffuse the light hitting it causing it to scatter in all directions. This is why you can see at all.